(Note: I have no idea if there is a drug that could do this, so I ask any medical professionals out there to excuse me! It's just fiction, right…)
MIAMI'S HERO
Chapter 6
Despite Eric's pleas, Frank Tripp refused to elaborate, and, before long, the doctor was back.
He looked grave. "Well, we know what it is…" He gave a name that meant absolutely nothing to either man.
"What is it?" Eric asked. "I've never heard of it."
"You won't have. It's only used in veterinary medicine. But it does mean it could hardly have been accidental, I'd have thought…. Unless he's got connections there - girlfriend? Pets?"
"No. Nothing like that. How was it administered?"
"Oh, ingested, definitely. If it had been injected, he'd be dead."
Eric blinked. "He's not going to die…?"
The doctor smiled. "No, he's not. He's got some in his blood stream, but not very much… That's why his level of consciousness was dropping. It's coming back, now that we're treating him. The worse thing is, ingested, it's gone straight through his digestive system and… well, basically attacked his stomach and gut. So he's going to be very uncomfortable and quite poorly, while it heals. But it will heal. He's a strong man, and you got him here quickly. He'll get over it."
"Thank God for that," Frank murmured. "Doctor, write that name down for me…"
The doctor did so, then said, "You can see him, if you want, though he's a bit out of it."
Frank took the paper and stood up. "Stay with him, Eric. I've got some enquiries to make."
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Outside the hospital, Frank called the lab. It was early evening, and he expected to get one of the nightshift. He was relieved to hear Calleigh's warm Southern tones.
"Cal, you're in late…"
"Lots to do… in the circumstances… Is he okay, Frank?" Her voice shook slightly, clearly anticipating the worst.
"He will be. I'll tell you later, but I need you to do something. If I'm not too late…"
"Anything. What do you need?"
"Lunch today… Did Horatio have a sandwich? From Tacchi's?"
"I think he did. Is this to do with what happened?"
"It might be, but I don't know yet. Where did he eat it?"
"Not the break room… Probably his office…"
"Do you know if it's been cleaned yet?"
"It hasn't. I'm in there now. You want the sandwich wrapping?"
"Just retrieve it, if it's there, Calleigh. Treat it as evidence. Look, I've got to go. Talk later."
Frank rang off and drove straight to Tacchi's, where he found the Italian owner just closing up. Michelle Freeman? Yes, she had been in, but had gone home sick, after lunch. "She have the women's troubles, I think…"
"I'll bet she did," Frank said sourly. "I need her employee records."
The details seemed genuine, and led him to Windsor and Freeman, Veterinarians. He was greeted at the door by an anxious man.
"Have you found Michelle? Has something happened? I was about to call you people…"
"And you are..?"
"John Freeman. She's my wife."
Frank barely hid his surprise. Somehow, he had not expected her to be married. "And where should she be?"
"Well, here, by now. She was at work - she's a librarian - but she should be back by four."
"Did you call the… er… library?"
"No, I assumed she'd gone shopping. But it's getting late now." He frowned in confusion. "Officer, why are you here?"
"I think I'd better come in, Mr. Freeman." Frank realised it might well be 'Dr. Freeman', but he wasn't in any mood to stand on ceremony.
In the next five minutes, Frank learnt very little new about Michelle, but John Freeman heard a great deal about his wife. Frank left with the number of Michelle's car, the names of one or two acquaintances of the Freemans, and a certainty that he had the right suspect.
But the woman was running.
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It was late when Frank got back to the hospital. Directed by a nurse, he quietly opened the door to the room where Eric sat beside a sleeping Horatio. The CSI was dozing. He looked up, startled, then rubbed his eyes and smiled. From the smile, Frank deduced that Horatio was at least stable. He beckoned Eric to come outside.
"How's he doing?"
"Pretty well, I gather."
A nurse came past them, and overheard. "He is - he's out of danger. You gentlemen should go home… Come and see him tomorrow."
Frank looked enquiringly at Eric, who nodded. They walked out together, and headed for Frank's car. "Come on, I'll give you a lift."
"Are you going to tell me about your suspicions?"
"I will. And now they're certainties."
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It took only hours to apprehend Michelle Freeman. Frightened and amateurish, she had tried to sleep in her car, and was picked up by Highway Patrol.
Next day, Calleigh successfully identified the veterinary drug on the sandwich remains. Case proven… If circumstantially.
Frank was reluctant to do the interview. He'd have preferred to rip the woman's head off, at least metaphorically, but he knew he had to get the confession. He sat down, facing her, and took a deep breath.
"Do you know what you've done?"
"I made him sick?" She was fearful, but oddly defiant.
"You damn near killed him!"
"I only used a tiny bit - I just wanted him to know how he hurt me. After everything…"
Frank sighed. "Tell me exactly what you did. Better still, write it down. Then I won't have to listen to you. Oh, and just so you know, we'll be talking attempted homicide."
He sat back and watched her burst into tears.
And, later, it was Frank who went to update Horatio. Relieved to find him sitting up in bed, and fully alert, he was nevertheless shocked at the pallor and stress in the handsome face.
He sat down, and gave what he hoped was a cheerful smile. "How you doing, partner?"
"Okay… Well, I can't eat, and my guts are falling apart…" He grinned ruefully. "But they're looking after me. You going to tell me what's going on?"
Frank nodded. Horatio listened in silence, though his expression betrayed his shock.
At the end, he murmured, "My God… How did I not see that coming?"
"I didn't either."
"You did. You kept warning me…"
Frank sighed. "I really didn't see her going for you physically… I'm sorry, Horatio - I think I said she wasn't dangerous… And it was me that sent her packing - none too kindly."
"Frank, Frank, you've got nothing to be sorry for! I just feel…. How could I have been so stupid? Thirty years a cop, and I walked right into it?"
The two men sat in silence. At last, Horatio said, "Well, I've learnt one thing - next time, I'll listen to your hunches. Although I hope there's not a 'next time'."
Frank chuckled.
"What?"
"Well, the world's full of nut jobs. You're often in the public eye, and you're an attractive man - so they tell me - have to say, you don't do it for me."
"Glad of that."
"So, all I'm saying… It might crop up again. Specially if you keep getting your picture in the paper. 'Miami's Hero' indeed!" He shook his head, then stood up. "You take care now…"
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Epilogue
Calleigh assembled the team in the layout room. She smiled at them all. They'd worked hard to give her the confidence to run the lab in Horatio's absence…
"I know you want to know what's happening in Horatio's case… Michelle Freeman will be charged with attempted homicide. The DA took a bit of persuading, and it may still be downgraded to an assault, but I'm not going to let it go easily. She's pleading mental incapacity, but I don't think that will carry any weight - there's not much doubt that she knew what she was doing.
And the best news of all… Horatio was discharged from hospital this morning. His doctors say he should convalesce for a couple of weeks. He says he'll be back on Monday."
THE END